The Guardian | V Dale/Alamy
So, why are some of the most at-risk children in England being placed in illegal settings? An increasing population of looked-after children, coupled with a shrinking supply in settings that can cater for complex cases, is part of the problem. The number of looked-after children has risen by nearly 20% over the past decade, with about 83,600 children now looked after by the state. There are now 14,840 more children in care than there were in 2014, but 2,165 fewer fostering households, according to the Institute for Government.